Tuesday 20 November 2018

Oriflame The One Colour Obsession Lipsticks Review


It is officially glam season in India. As the temperature drops, the festive wedding season gets into full swing. Casual clothes makes way for couture pieces, basic is replaced with bling, and warm hues are preferred over soft shades. With parties, weddings and social gathering every other day, creating new and different looks can be a task. However, with just the right makeup and accessories, you can effortlessly repeat any look you like.

Right in time to get you ready for the festive wedding season, Oriflame has launched The One Colour Obsession Lipsticks in 10 rich shades. The colour intensity of the lipstick is enhanced through ChromaLoad technology. The weightless gel crème formula makes it very easy to apply; the lipsticks melts on contact and give a luminous, glossy finish. 

Product styling and photography by Roxanne D'souza of Head2Heels

What I love about this collection is, all the lipsticks are sheer and light textured and not heavily pigmented. After application they give a fresh, wet finish that gives the lips a delicate dewy look. The lipsticks offer up to 8 hour moisture and can last for a good 4 hours without touch up. This collection is ideal for anyone who likes to wear radiant and pop colours that are not too dark and pigmented after application. Plus, all 10 shades perfectly complement and suit all Indian skin tones. 

RED RAGE
Red Rage is a vibrant red shade. This shade has a warm undertone and suits a large number of Indian complexions. It is a lovely shade of bright red without being too bold. Ideal for those who prefer to wear not too dramatic or statement making shade of red.

RED FEVER
Red Fever is a deep red shade with blue undertone. Reddish-brown in colour, Red Fever is a more subtle shade of red that can effortlessly be worn during the day and night. 

PURPLE POWER
Purple Power is a rich purple shade that has a hint of wine to it. If you add a few extra swipes on top of your regular application, you can have a nice dark plum pout with this shade.

CHERRY CRAVE
Cherry Crave is a maroon shade with purple undertone. A stunning dark shade, Cherry Crave has all the appeal of oxblood without being too dramatic. Ideal for those who like to wear dark shades that are not too deep and pigmented.

PINK POSSESSION

Pink Possession is a pretty shade of pink with a coral orange undertone. A summer shade that works very well even in the festive winter season. Like me, if you have naturally pink lips, on application, the shade looks pinkish orange.

PEACH PASSION
Peach Passion is a delicate shade of peach. It is a very subtle shade that adds a hint of colour to the lips.

MAGENTA MANIA
Magenta Mania is a sultry hot pink shade. With deeper application you can get a sexy fuchsia pout with this shade.

CORAL CRAZE
Coral Craze is a pop shade of coral orange with pink undertone. This is a rich and radiant shade that looks great with both Indian and Western outfits.

TEMPTING ORANGE
Tempting Orange is a fiery orange shade with a hint of red.

NUDE APPEAL
Nude Appeal is a classic shade of nude. On application it enhances your natural lips colour and gives a delicate colourless glow to it.


Photography by Shreyas Hegde

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!

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Monday 11 June 2018

Plus Size Fashion | Ready For Eid


Ramazan is my most favourite month of the year. I love the whole spirit of the festive month. It is also the month of retrospection and deep connection with Allah. And like every Ramazan this one too has been a month of finding the answers I have been looking for.  
It was in Ramazan of 2011 that I decided I want to start a fashion blog and pursue a career in fashion blogging. Some of my life's biggest, best and life changing epiphanies have occurred during Ramazan.
As much as I wish Ramazan lasted a little longer, I enthusiastically look forward to Eid celebration. It is a great way to spend time with family and relatives and celebrate the completion of yet another Ramazan.

Past experience has taught me to always plan in advance for Eid. With the last minute Eid rush, it becomes next to impossible to get anything stitched in time for it. This year I decided to skip my Eid staple, the traditional kurta chuddidar, and opt for something a tad bit different. Instead of getting a full suit stitched I decided to play mix and match and go with an all new Eid look for myself.

While browsing through one of my fave plus size shopping sites, Amydus, I found this bright yellow printed kurti. I loved the traditional silhouette with the on-trend off- shoulder sleeves. The kurti was a break from the run of the mill kurti without being too dramatic. The bright colour made it an ideal for a festive day. And since the kurti had no embellishments it could easily be styled post Eid for different occasions.

When it came to pairing the kurti I had a slight conflict. Originally I wanted to pair it with blue palazzo pants. Since I wanted a different look I finally opted for a printed skirt instead. I love mixing prints and the final look was just what I had in mind for Eid.

I love the fluidity and playfulness of the look. A classic Indian look with a modern stylised twist. And post Eid I can wear this look for any day monsoon wedding function. One of the main reasons why I opted for the kurti is because of its versatility. It can easily be paired with a number of bottoms as well as be layered up.


Amydus Off-Shoulder Kurti | Westside Printed Skirt | Charles & Keith Pumps | Accessorize Clutch |  Pure Vermeil  L'Oreal Paris Pure Reds Color Riche Collection Star Lipstick | L'Oreal Paris Superliner Waterproof Gel Eyeliner | MAC Eyeshadow 
Like always I have had a wonderful and blessed Ramazan and I can’t wait to celebrate Eid. Here’s wishing you all Eid Mubarak. May the blessings of Ramazan carry forward year round. 

Photography by Shreyas Hegde

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!

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Wednesday 9 May 2018

Summer Wedding Ready


Indian summer wedding season is upon us, which means endless sangeet dance practice, high intake of Indian mithais and pretty outfits to purchase. Whether you are going sea side for a costal affair or travelling out of the country for a destination soiree, the right outfits and accessories are on top of everyone’s checklist.
Should you opt for an out and out heavy Indian traditional ensemble? Or maybe an Indo-western look? Or play it safe with a classic saree? While the choices are endless the weather, sadly, is the biggest hindrance of it all.  
As much as I love to adorn myself in the finest Indian silks, colourful brocades and lush embroidery, I keep all of this for the cold winter weddings. For summer weddings I prefer to keep my outfits light and fluid and glam up my look with statement jewellery and accessories. And there is nothing more glamorous than Indian jewellery. 
While planning my summer wedding looks I came across Jivaana, a delightful treasure trove of jewellery and accessories. From traditional minakari and kunda sets to chic fashion bags to trendy juttis, Jivaana is your one stop shop for all your wedding accessories. 
I was drooling over many of their pieces, but it is this Green Stone and Kundan Jewellery Set and Multicolor Navaratna Ring from Label Amara that caught my fancy. 
I love the versatility of both these pieces. The jewellery set and the ring are a fine balance of classic Indian design and contemporary aesthetics. The styling potential is endless and these pieces can easily be pair with Indian wear, Indo-Western wear as well as Western wear.
For summer weddings I prefer fusion attire. I decided to style the jewellery set and ring with a printed handkerchief hem kurta that I styled as a dress. A cool colour palette ensemble to beat the heat. The blue of the kurta and the green of the jewellery complemented each other. Adding final touches to the look with the multicolor Navaratna statement right and a dash of dark red lipstick, the look is summer wedding ready.
The beauty of this jewellery set is it can be paired with any of the wedding functions outfits as well as for other semi-formal and formal occasions. What I like about the green stone and kundan necklace is, that it can be worn two ways. Depending on the look, you can either style it with the kundan side or turn it around and style it with the minakari design. The versatility of the necklace makes it a smart investment. The green stone and pearl earrings have a very Indo-western feel to it. They can be worn with the necklace or styled individually as well. 
Other than the jewellery I was also very impressed with Jivaana’s bag collection. They have a wide array of potli bags and clutches. 
Along with jewellery and juttis if you are looking to buy clutches online and potli bags online then Jivaana is the place to shop. Their collection is well-curated and has something for every occasion and season.
Amydus Kurti | Label Amara Green Stone and Kundan Jewellery Set From Jivaana | Label Amara Multicolor Navaratna Ring from Jivaana | Inc5 Wedges | Acessorize Clutch | Pure Garnet  L'Oreal Paris Pure Reds Color Riche Collection Star Lipstick | L'Oreal Paris Superliner Waterproof Gel Eyeliner | Smashbox Eyeshadow | Maybelline Volum Express Colossal Waterproof Mascara 

Photography by Shreyas Hegde

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!

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Monday 12 March 2018

Plus Size Fashion | Casual Chic


I’ve never worked in the corporate sector. My previous jobs – as a fashion designer, stylist and bridal consultant and now as a blogger and writer – have always been in the private space. None of my previous jobs ever had a dress code. However, since I worked in the fashion space I was always expected to dress well.
Plus Size Tops
Nowadays the line between formal and informal dressing is blurring with people mixing both up. Most professions don’t have strict dress codes like they did before. One can wear a pair of jeans with a crisp jacket for meeting or a trendy t-shirt with a pencil skirt. The healthy mix of formal and informal pairing has created a new work-wear dress code that is both, chic and comfortable. 
How To Style Plus Work Wear Look
The key to smart casual work wear look is finding the right balance between formal and semi-formal or informal pieces. There needs to be that one piece that will balance the whole look. 
Body Positive India
My current job as a blogger/influencer and writer gives me the freedom to dress up in a more relaxed manner. I am not obligated to follow a dress code. However, that doesn’t mean I show up for events or meeting in track pants and a gym tee. Depending on the occasion I have the liberty to pick and choose what I can wear.
Tops And Pants For Plus Size Women
As much as I love wearing dresses, pants are often a more convenient choice for a day on the go. And since I reside in a city that is permanently hot and humid layering can sometimes be cumbersome. Very often I just opt for a top and pants. 
Indian Plus Size Brand Amydus
I spend a good amount of my times in meetings and I like to dress in a comfortable manner but at the same time look professional. For that reason, I have invested in a few pair of well fitted pants and tops. These pieces can easily be mixed and matched as well as layered up depending on the occasion.
Plus Size Fashion Blogger India
For a chic causal work wear look I have paired Amydus violet polka dot top with navy blue pants. To add some contrast to the look I decided to pair it with a funky and colourful folder and and finished the look with black brogues. The final look is casually comfortable but at the same time polished and professional too.
lyPlus Size Fashion Blog India
Amydus Polka Dot Top | Amydus Pants | Very Moda Brogues | India Circus Folder  | Lush Rose Lakme Absolute Argan Oil Lip Color Lipstick | L'Oreal Paris Superliner Waterproof Gel Eyeliner | MAC Eyeshadow  

Photography by Shreyas Hegde

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!

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Saturday 3 March 2018

Poised, Professional and Plus Size


I’m the first woman in my family who has worked outside the house. My mother, her mother and her mother, never did that. I’m not the only one. Lakhs of Indian women from my generation happen to also be the first time working women. Women who have chosen to have a career and empower themselves with financial independence. With a wide array of career options now available, women are taking over. From corporate boardrooms to the political arena and from directing a movie to launching a space shuttle, Indian women are making their presence felt everywhere. And it is only fair she is dressed perfectly for her dream job.
Plus Size Fashion Blog India
 How To Style Plus Work Wear Look
Indian fashion magazines and websites have done endless articles on work wear dressing. Articles telling Indian women what they should wear to look poised, professional and polished at the office. However, most of these articles favour western work-wear dressing and very often ignore Indian work wear dressing. With a large number of Indian women still preferring kurti and leggings and sarees over tops and pants/skirts and dresses, it is absolutely necessary the Indian working woman should have clothes in Indian silhouettes that are chic and work wear friendly. 
Body Positive India
Kurtis For Plus Size Women
Kurti, often referred to as tunic, in varying lengths is one of the most preferred Indian garment women wear to the office. For starters, the silhouette of the classic straight kurti is very comfortable and it can be paired with different types of bottoms. Most importantly, the silhouette of the classic side slit kurti complements all Indian body types making it a wardrobe staple for most Indian women. 
Indian Plus Size Brand Amydus
 Plus Size Fashion Blogger India
A lot of my readers have been asking me to create an Indian work wear look. I finally decided to that. Instead of opting for a regular kurta, I choose this lace detail Amydus kurti. The two things I love about it: First, the colour. Navy works for both day and night. Second, the lace detailing. It adds an element of sexy without being in your face.  
When it came to choosing a bottom to pair with the kurti I decided to skip the run of the mill churidar leggings and pants/jeans and instead opted for a printed palazzo. Since it was a look for the office, I decided to keep the the accessories to the bare minimum and only added a colour pop bag to enhance the overall look.
While both the kirti and palazzo are fluid silhouettes, their fluidity balanced each other out well. 
How To Style Plus Work Wear Look
Kurtis For Plus Size Women
Amydus Lace Detail Kurti | Westside Printed Palazzo | Charles & Keith Sandals | Coach Bag | Kate Spade Watch | Cherry Bite Lakme Absolute Lip Pouts Matte Masaba Lip Color Lipstick | L'Oreal Paris Superliner Waterproof Gel Eyeliner | MAC Eyeshadow
Not only does this look work for the office but you can comfortably wear this post office hour too. It is one of those minimum fuss, AM PM friendly looks that can be worn to a number of functions and occasions. 


Photography by Shreyas Hegde

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!

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Saturday 27 January 2018

Plus Size Fashion | Sorbet Stripes

For years, the fashion industry world over has confined plus size women inside a very small box that limits her sartorial choices to the bare minimum and depriving her the joys of fashion.
Not anymore! As the saying goes, rules are meant to be broken, and it’s about time we break all those antiquated plus size style rules that are just begging to be demolished.

Some of the most debated and discussed plus size fashion questions are: Should plus size women wear stripes? What kind? Should they only wear vertical ones and avoid horizontal ones? Should the stripes be thin or thick? And so on.
Here’s the thing – plus size women can and should wear stripes. And yes, they can wear all types of stripes. However, just like any trend, it’s is very important to select a style that fits your body type best. 
Plus Size Stripe Dress
I’ve been wanting to experiment with stripes and Afamado’s pastel stripe cold shoulder dress offered me the perfect opportunity.  The sorbet-flavoured colour palette instantly caught my eye.
How To Style Plus Size Stripes
I loved the clever juxtaposing of horizontal and vertical stripes. The empire waist line balances the the stripes in a way that the horizontal and vertical stripes complement each other. The overall dress is well-designed keeping plus size women of different sizes and shapes in mind.
Dresses For Plus Size Women
Another thing I loved about this dress is, it is very versatile. It is one of those dresses that can easily transform from day to night wear with minimum fuss and effort. Plus, the dress on its own is so striking, it requires very little accessorising. 
Indian Plus Size Brand Afamado
Instead of paring the dress with a solid colour bag, I decided to do a print mix look and pair it with a floral tote and clutch.
For a day look I decided to pair the dress with a floral tote and add a necklace to it.
Plus Size Fashion Blogger India
For the night look, I swapped the tote with a floral clutch, and replaced the necklace with gold statement earrings and palm cuff. With just the simple changes the love can go from day chic to night glam. 
Plus Size Stripe Dress
I’ve always worn stripes, but I have been a tad apprehensive about wearing horizontal stripes as well as mixing stripes. This dress completely changed that for me. Whether horizontal, vertical or diagonal, I have no qualms about wearing stripes or mixing them up. 
How To Style Plus Size Stripes
The key to acing the stripe trend is by finding the right stripe proprotion for your body type. This is applicable for both straight and plus size bodies. Once you figured out the right stripe proportion for your body type and shape, the rest will fall into place.
Dresses For Plus Size Women

Afamado Pastel Stripe Dress | Ted Baker Tote & Clutch | Van Heusen Wedges | Accessorize Necklace | Kate Spade Watch | Bubble Pink Lakme Absolute Lip Pouts Matte Masaba Lip Color Lipstick | L'Oreal Paris Superliner Waterproof Gel Eyeliner | Oriflame Eyeshadow | Maybelline Mascara 
I've said this before and I will say it again - fashion rules for plus size, curvy and fat women are nothing but a way to control their bodies and keep them out of the mainstream fashion narrative. 
To all my dear plus size, curvy and fat sisters, please don't let these ridiculous, sizeist rules stop you for experimenting with fashion and taking sartorial risk. Wear what you like, how you like, and when you like. Life is too short to follow rules that are discriminatory towards you.
Photography by Shreyas Hegde

Till then, tra-la,

Amena!!
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Sunday 21 January 2018

Himalaya Winter Bundle

All through the second half of December and starting of January I was travelling. While some places were really cold, the others not so much. With the weather being different, I had to take care of my skin at all times.
To avoid all kinds of dryness, flaking, chapping, itchiness and tightness, I made sure I had the right products to keep my skin soft and hydrated. 
I had a great experience with Himalaya’s Youth Eternity Range and decided to give their skincare and lip care range a try. The products I selected were keeping my skin type in mind and something that I could use post the winter season too.
Himalaya Skin Care And Lip Care

Himalaya Strawberry Shine Lip Care
This is the first time I am trying a lip balm from Himalaya Herbals. One of the main reasons why I decided to go for it is because it is enriched with 100% natural colour, Vitamin E and antioxidants. Plus, it is free from preservatives, petroleum jelly, mineral oil and silicone. 
Himalaya Skin Care And Lip Care
On application it gives a delicate strawberry fragrance and a glossy finish and enhances your natural lip colour. What I really loved about this lip balm is, it is not heavy and sticky and doesn’t leave a greasy residue. The lip balm easily lasts for 4-5 hours, prevents moisture loss and offers complete hydration. 
Himalaya Strawberry Shine Lip Care completely moisturises your lips and keeps them soft and supple.
Himalaya Strawberry Shine Lip Care

Himalaya Nourishing Skin Cream
When it comes to skin cream I tend to be very picky. Since I have oily skin and live in a humid weather a lot of skin creams don’t suit my skin type. Therefore, it is paramount for me to choose something that is oily skin and humid climate friendly.
Himalaya Winter Bundle
The main reasons why I chose Himalaya’s Nourishing Skin Cream is because it is light, non-greasy, easy-to-use daily cream, which provides all day moisturising, nourishment and protection and keeps the skin soft and supple for hours.
The cream is blended with the extracts of Aloe Vera, Winter Cherry, Indian Kino Tree and Indian Pennywort, which protect the skin from pollution and bad weather conditions, providing nourishment and adequate hydration. A major plus point for the skin cream is, it is dermatologically-tested and hypoallergenic.
Himalaya Nourishing Skin Cream

Himalaya Cocoa Butter Intensive Body Lotion
I won’t lie – I’m one of those women who doesn’t moisturise on a daily basis. I know it’s a bad habit that needs to change ASAP, but until that happens I make it a point to invest in a body lotion that gives my skin the much needed hydration. 
Himalaya Skin Care And Lip Care
Himalaya's Cocoa Butter Intensive Body Lotion is ideal for me. It deeply moisturises, softens and smoothens the skin. Cocoa Butter's deep-penetrating, natural ingredients repair and nourish the skin as well as makes it supple and the Wheat Germ Oil restores the skin's elasticity, leaving it softer and more toned than before along with improving the skin texture.
The body lotion has a delicate smell that lingers for a while after application. The texture of the lotion is creamy and fluid, gets easily absorbed into the skin and doesn’t leave a sticky residue. This makes the body lotion ideal for not just dry but humid weather as well. Like all Himalaya products this one too is free of preservatives and harmful chemicals. 
Himalaya Cocoa Butter Intensive Body Lotion
One thing I’ve learnt over the years is, it is very important to invest in good skin care products. Products that improve the skin quality over time and help keep it healthy and supple.
Himalaya products do not disappoint on that front. They offer the best skin and lip care in the harshest of weathers and help you to retain fresh and glowing skin at all times.
Photography by Shreyas Hegde

Till then, tra-la,
    Amena!!
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